Cult garage rock act Shannon & The Clams to play 2 Wilmington shows

Friday

The Oakland quartet has drawn acclaim for the deep, stylish cuts on recent album "Onion." They're at the Ocean Grill in Carolina Beach July 22 and at Reggie's on July 23.

It's been a while since cult garage rock act Shanon & The Clams played Wilmington — they hail from Oakland on the other coast — but fond memories are bringing them back.

"We had so much fun when we played (The Calico Room) four years ago," said the band's singer and bassist, Shannon Shaw. "Booking the tour, I said, remember that tiki bar at the end of a pier? That sounded so cool, those people seemed so nice. I'm ecstatic that it's working out this year."

Shannon & The Clams play the Ocean Grill and Tiki Bar in Carolina Beach on July 22 and at Reggie's 42nd Street Tavern in Wilmington on July 23. That's two chances to catch the band's smart blend of garage rock, '60s girl group sounds, punk and R&B. Expect two two very different shows.

"We always do a different set," Shaw said. "We always shake it up, wear different costumes."

It's been a productive year for Shaw. She and the Clams' most recent album, "Onion," came out in February, and her solo album, "Shannon In Nashville," was released in June. Both albums were produced by The Black Keys' Dan Auerbach.

"He was a huge part of it, really comfortable experimenting," Shaw said. "We were able to put a lot of that old studio sound we loved, and have listened to our whole lives, into our own music."

"Onion" charms but it does so with songs of loss ("Don't Close Your Eyes") and heartache, including the scorching "Did You Love Me" and "Tryin," both penned and sung by guitarist Cody Blanchard. Shaw's impassioned delivery cuts deep — she can take a single word, like "onion," and make it a hearty, emotional chorus — especially given the album's often dark subject matter.

Much of "Onion" centers on the tragedy of the Oakland Ghost Ship fire of December 2016, in which 36 people perished in a building that served as an artists' collective. Members of the band knew many of those who died.

On "Don't Close Your Eyes," Shaw sings, "I woke up and heard the world crying/ Crying over you." The band was halfway done with the album when the fire happened, and Shaw said performing the songs serves to keep the memories of their friends alive.

"It's good to try and remember how amazing and life-changing, and how big a part of the creative being, all those people were in Oakland," Shaw said. "I cried the first few times I played these songs. I performed, but weeping the whole time. I don't want anyone to feel sad, but the point is to feel everything but don't forget to try and feel good."

Contact StarNews arts and entertainment at 910-343-2343.

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